Grand Caymanes, in the West Indies, on the 8th March, in the following year.
Captain Lawford’s next appointment was to the Agincourt, 64; from her he removed, about the spring of 1798, to the Romney of 50 guns. In the summer of the same year, being entrusted with the command of a small squadron, he fell in with a Swedish frigate having under her convoy a number of vessels, bound to different ports in the Mediterranean, laden with naval stores. Upon doubts which Captain Lawford entertained respecting the line of conduct he should pursue on so delicate an occasion, he immediately sent an express to the Admiralty, whilst with his squadron, he kept the convoy in view. On the return of his messenger with instructions for the detention of the merchant vessels, our officer desired Sir Charles Lindsay and Captain Raper to communicate them in the civilest terms to the Swedish Commodore; who shewed his instructions to repel force by force, if any attempt were made to board the vessels under his charge, and declared that he would protect them to the last. The crew of the Swedish frigate were immediately at quarters, matches, lighted, and every preparation made for an obstinate resistance. In the night, possession was taken of most of the vessels; the commander of the convoy making many movements, which were narrowly watched by the Romney, keeping close under his lee, lower-deck guns run out, and every man at his station. In the morning an armed boat sent by the Swedish frigate, took out by force the British officer who had been left on board one of the vessels; at the same time the Commodore sent an officer of his own to Captain Lawford, to complain that he had taken advantage of the night to get possession of his charge, which was unobserved by him, or he would assuredly have defended them to the last. Upon further conference, and representation of the impracticability of resistance to such a superior force, he at length agreed to go into Margate Roads, and returned the British officer who had been detained on board his frigate.
Some months after, judgment was passed in the High Court of Admiralty, that all the merchantmen, with their several cargoes, should be condemned (being laden with naval and military stores, bound to France); but that the
